Organic vs. Conventional Milk
By: Keith
I buy organic milk. Why do I buy organic milk? I didn’t know before yesterday. Not knowing why I did something that costs so much money was bothersome – so I researched. I found out, not to my surprise, that there are fairly convincing people on both sides of this question. There is more to the organic milk debate than simply the healthfulness of the milk. We must also consider taste, sustainable farming, general nutrition, and the ethical treatment of cows. Does organic milk beat conventional milk in these categories? Not necessarily. Will I still buy organic milk? Yes, but not for the reasons I would have guessed, not the same brand of organic milk as before, and I will not summarily dismiss conventional milk.
Safety (rbST)
The reason most people give for drinking organic milk is that it contains no rbST or rbGH (Recombinant bovine growth hormone). RbGH is a naturally occurring hormone that is produced in the pituitary gland of milk producing cows. The higher the production of this hormone the more milk the cow produces. Farmers started treating low producing cows with rbST to boost milk yield. Since rbGH is a growth hormone people have expressed concern that it could lead to growth abnormalities and cancers in humans. Dale Bauman, a professor of animal science at Cornell University, said in an MSNBC interview that a person would need to drink 95 quarts of milk per day to equal the same amount of IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor) that we produce daily in our bodies. There are studies indicating vegans having lower levels of IGF (13 percent lower in one study) than non vegans. The cause of this disparity is higher levels of IGF in people who eat refined carbohydrates, saturated fats, and people who live a generally unhealthy lifestyle – not the growth hormone in milk. Bovine growth hormone never reaches our blood stream because it is a protein hormone and therefore has no impact on IGF levels in humans. In other words, it is a non-factor.
Is Organic More Ethical?
I was surprised to find that the definition of organic when it comes to milk is vague. One of the conditions for becoming an organic farm (but not the only requirement) is that cows be given feed that is not grown with pesticides. Another is that cows have access to pasture. Cows could conceivably be let out of their pens once a month to graze for a few minutes just to be put back into a pen and fed grain instead of grass. In fact, the definition leaves so much leeway that some farms are almost indistinguishable from traditional farms. Consumer Affairs has an article reporting that the requirements to be labeled organic are flexible enough that some companies are skirting the intent of the laws and engaging in unethical farming practices. The New York Times has reported that the supply for organic milk is so great that some companies are cutting corners in order to meet demand. Companies that follow the intent of the law are indeed more environmentally aware. But, does that mean that organic milk is necessarily better for the environment? No, it does not. Is buying organic better for smaller, family farms? The National Dairy Council says that the majority of the 60,000 dairy farms in the US have less than 200 cows and are family farms (organic milk makes up 3% of the total market). Buying conventional milk helps support family farms just the same as buying organic.
Which Farms Produce the Best Milk?
This is a subjective question and probably open to much debate. The Cornucopia Institute has compiled a ranking of farms that meet their criteria for ethics, sustainability, taste, and who knows what other apparent methods. In any case, this list, Organic Dairy Report/Ratings, is a good starting point in deciding which milks live up to true organic standards. I was interested to find that Horizon organic milk got a “zero cow” rating. Horizon is owned by Dean Foods and is one of the organic companies that is alleged to have violated the intent of organic farming. We’ll see how that turns out.
A Word on General Nutrition
Cows’ natural diet is grass. Therefore, it is no surprise that milk from cows that have been fed exclusively grass have up to 71 percent more omega 3 fatty acids than milk from non-grass fed cows (see OFD Article: Grassfed vs. Grainfed). It seems so silly to have to explain that cows fed a natural diet would naturally produce higher quality milk. All we have to do is look as far as a human mother who breast-feeds her baby. How many times have we heard doctors say, “Don’t smoke. Don’t Drink. Don’t take certain medicines.” Whatever a mother consumes will subsequently find it’s way into breast milk – then baby. It’s the same with cows. rbST is not a health concern for humans. I nevertheless want my milk coming from cows that are fed grass. It’s for the same reason I want my baby drinking breast milk from his/her healthy mother; healthy mothers produce healthy kids as a general rule. Milk from grass fed cows is higher in fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins (Eatwild: Super Healthy Milk).
Am I still going to buy organic milk? I will buy organic milk. I won’t buy certain organic milk just like I won’t buy certain conventional milks. I have discovered that organic farming is not always what it is advertised to be. I also learned that the fears people have about growth hormones are unfounded. I will no longer buy organic milk with the assumption that by doing so I am helping family farms or that I am saving my kids from rbST. I will, however, continue to buy organic milk with the hope that the company that I buy it from is feeding their cows grass and allowing them the space they need to be happy cows. I will not, though, assume that all organic milk lives up to that standard or that all conventional milk does not. I will continue to research.
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This is a really informative post, thanks for all this information. I am a consumer of organic milk and a lot of other organic products (mostly dairy). Personally, I like the taste more. We like skim milk, and organic skim milk tastes 2% non-organic somehow. Also, we love how long it lasts (not that it ever lasts that long). The price is obviously twice that of regular milk, but it is way worth it IMO. Peace
Gee, Thanks…after that, I am gonna go out and buy it…the other half likes it, but I just went along with the kid….skim.
I enjoyed reading your article, however I disagree that rGBH is a non-issue. It’s not just a hormone, it’s a genetically engineered hormone. It forces the cows to produce more milk, but that is not healthy for cows. When they are kept producing beyond their natural levels and cycles, their milk is less nutritious. They are more prone to infections, so the use of antibiotics increases. The cows’ lifespan is shortened by the use of this genetically engineered hormone, created by Monsanto. So, it’s a huge issue for me and my family. ( For info at http://www.grist.org/article/food-2010-10-06-court-rules-on-rbgh-free-milk/ )
Enforcement of existing rules for organic pasture has increased, so some big factory farms pretending to produce organic milk are being forced to comply or lose their organic certification. This is good news for family farms who are taking care of their cows and their land the right way.
Thank you for caring where your milk comes from. I wish more people did!
Le doy a mi BB esta leche con cereal en la manana , ya q el es full breast feeding, que pasa ,con BELLAMY’S ORGANIC , CERTIFICAD BY NASAA ………NI SIQUIERA ESTA EN LA LISTA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I think that there is much fallacy about rBST being spread around. As a dairy farmer, might I intervene? I am ambivalent on using it (I personally wouldn’t, just an added expense), but there is some benefit to it.
“It forces the cows to produce more milk, but that is not healthy for cows. When they are kept producing beyond their natural levels and cycles, their milk is less nutritious”
The cow naturally produces BST. BST only works when extra nutrients are available, being a protein hormone, it will only take nutrients that are being unused and allow for milk synthesis to occur. By giving rBST shots, cows are provided with supplemental bovine somatotropin (BST), and can thus utilize more nutrients for milk production rather than excrete them. So in fact, the milk will have the same nutrient content. If a cow is too skinny, giving her rBST will not have a negative effect on her as rBST only works when the nutrients are available. Yes, they are producing beyond their natural levels, but it does not adversely affect the cow or milk.
“They are more prone to infections, so the use of antibiotics increases.”
Incidence of illness is the same as non-BST herds. The Morrisville State College farm uses rBST and has lower sick rates than many of the non-rBST farms I know of (and I live in dairy country!). If we have a cow that freshens with a high body condition score (overweight), giving her a double dose of rBST will actually reduce incidence of antibiotic use as she will be able to get rid of the unused nutrients and not have problems such as ketosis or other illnesses.
“The cows’ lifespan is shortened by the use of this genetically engineered hormone, created by Monsanto.”
Cows treated with rBST live just as long as non-rBST cows. In the end, they all walk onto the beef truck just fine. Monsanto did not create rBST, the effects of rBST injections was discovered by scientists in the USSR in the 50′s. Cornell University began doing extensive testing on it in the 80′s, and Monsanto made it available on the market. rBST is the single most tested drug in the FDA, and has withstood such tests because it is safe for both cows and people.
“Enforcement of existing rules for organic pasture has increased, so some big factory farms pretending to produce organic milk are being forced to comply or lose their organic certification. This is good news for family farms who are taking care of their cows and their land the right way.”
I do like the pasture requirements for organic farms. But I know lots of conventional farms with pasture as well. 99% of farms are family farms, but that does not mean they aren’t “factory” farms as some call them. Just because they have a lot of animals, doesn’t mean we don’t take care of them. With large farms, we can have people who specialize in certain areas, which can have great benefits in caring for our cows. Nutritionists, feeders, herdsmen, milkers, crop managers, veterinarians, barn cleaners, calf raisers, mechanics, breeders, and many more are all devoted to animal care and do a great job at it. Many will hear of farms milking 3,000 cows. But remember, those farms are also working very hard to care for 3,000 milking cows plus 3,000 young stock and dry cows, with many employees to make it happen.
In the end, the choice is yours as the consumer. As a farmer, it’s my job to put cow care first. I am glad that so many of you are active in finding out how your milk is being produced, but remember, the people who devote their whole lives to farm work have learned from much experience and education. I myself am an animal science student. We spend many weeks in classes learning about dairy science, nutrition, breeding, calf raising, soil science, field crops, economics, and much more. We invite your input, but please value ours as well. Most cooperatives, even the big ones, are voting to abandon BST because of consumer input. Education is crucial, but remember to get both sides of the story. Documentaries can only cover so much in an hour or two. Talk to your farmers, they know a lot!
Thanks for all of the information. I am incredibly involved with nutrition to the extent that it helps me control my physical condition and therefore improve my quality of life. So much erroneous information exists, especially in the “organic, sustainable” movement and I for years was an arrogantly staunch supporter of everything Anti-Corporate. What I have realized is that in actuality , as this farmer has testified and the gentleman from the original post, is that a lot of the intent of that information is to politically harm some other organizations adversary, and truly has nothing to do with the people on the ground performing the jobs and supplying the food. Now, I know many bad companies that are detrimental to our society exists and I do not work with them, but Milk can be bought everywhere under a thousand names and knowing that the practices of the conventional farmers who are family farmers , are safe, valid, tested and in some case more logical than their so called “green” competition, does a great deal for me personally. I am an avid fan of MILK and wish I could do my own studies on its benefits. Dairy on multiple occasions in my life has been such an instrumental ingredient in my recovery and growth that I wish more people would investigate it and really test the consumption of it in their own lives.
I once came from 425lbs to 235 in Eight months on a VLCD that revolved around Milk a lot. Also, Casein and Whey.
a few years later I was injured and spent some time in a wheelchair, eventually had surgeries and had to come from a state of atrophy and eventually to lifting incredible amounts of weight and running long distance, as well this time I was using Milk also Casien and Whey I went from 380 to 245 in about 9 months.
Now, I of course have used a lot of training regimens, strict observance of my nutritional and caloric restrictions and have consumed fish, veggies, vitamins and others BUT
BUT,
I tried and failed a lot of ideas before I used logic to return to a Milk filled diet. At one point I drank roughly a gallon a day and I found my bowels, mental state, physical condition all in prime shape. At this time people thought I was crazy and I was actually talked away from my own intuition and discoveries because of the false information I received regarding Milk and the dairy industry. I spent many years after dairy, while still being very healthy and overall happy, sensing that something was off. I even assumed I just aged through a physical part of my life. Too old to be so strong. Well. Eventually I decided to try milk again (maybe leaving that hippy girl helped
And I will never leave it out again.
My muscles are firmer, my ability to control my weight is easier, my stomache is running smooth. Everything is a +1 with Milk.
Thanks again for the farmer and initial poster for taking the time to discuss these things. I personally by Conventionally Labeled Milk, from a local source due to the high costs of the Organics in store. I have never seen any appreciable difference other than taste. Often the taste of certain “Country” labeled brands seem off to me, but I have used them in a pinch with no ill effect.
Theodore